"You really thought a nobody like you could ask Jen out? Pathetic."
The sneer came from Tom, Lakewood High's star athlete, just a second before his fist collided with my jaw. I hit the pavement hard, curling into a ball as Tom and his goons began a relentless barrage of kicks. Each blow felt like a sledgehammer against my ribs, leaving me gasping for air in the dirt.
I was a good student—third in my class, actually—but out here, grades didn't mean a thing. My father was just a factory worker at Steam Tech, spending his days producing the 'Caplis'—specialized canisters designed to stabilize the Super Solution. That legendary serum, discovered by the scientists of the 10th-tier city Cosmic City, it was the only thing that mattered in this world. It turned the rich into gods; and the lucky into more
Tom and his crew finally grew bored, leaving me bleeding in the alley. I sat up slowly, spitting blood onto the asphalt. "What an asshole," I muttered, my voice thick with irritation and a simmering, helpless anger.
I limped over to the dumpster, fishing out my backpack. It was covered in filth and torn at the seams. "If I just had a power... even a low-grade one," I whispered to myself. I thought of the heroes on the news—the ones who took the Solution and gained the strength to level buildings. Even a Low-Tier solution cost at least 100k, a sum of money i couldnt dream off.
I made my way home, my body aching with every step. I stopped to rest on a bench near the local park, staring out at the small lake. I felt exhausted, defeated by a world that only valued strength.
WHAM.
A streak of light tore through the atmosphere at an impossible speed, slamming into the center of the lake. The impact was deafening. A wall of water exploded outward, drenching me from head to toe. Stunned, I watched as the water hissed and evaporated from the sheer heat of the impact, leaving the lake bed bone-dry.
I climbed down into the steaming crater, my heart hammering. At the center lay a small, unassuming stone. But as I reached out to touch it, the rock pulsed with a violent purple light.
Suddenly, a translucent window flickered into existence before my eyes:
> [System has detected a matching target. Starting binding process. Hold on, Host.]
>
"Wait, what—?"
Before I could finish, my world turned into a nightmare of agony. My bones felt like they were being snapped and re-knitted by invisible pliers. I collapsed, screaming and sobbing into the mud as the process tore through me for ten grueling minutes. When the pain finally receded into a dull throb, the voice returned.
> [Congratulations, Yuta Starfall. You have been chosen for the Esper System. Strive and train, and you shall stand at the top of this world—and perhaps, even further beyond.]
>
I wiped the snot and tears from my face, blinking at the screen. "No way... a System? Like those webnovels?" I took a shaky breath. "Okay... okay, System. Show me my skills."
A new tab flickered open.
> [Skill: Low-Level Energy Control (Lv. 1)]
>
"Energy control? Can I shoot beams?" I stood up, thrusting my palm forward. "Energy blast!"
A pathetic wisp of purple light sputtered from my hand, traveling three feet before dissolving into nothing. I stared at my palm, unimpressed. "Great. I'm still weak. What about my stats?"
> [Strength: 5 | Agility: 3 | Dexterity: 2 | Energy: 9/10]
> [Current Evaluation: The Weakest.]
>
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the honesty, you annoying piece of—"
The System buzzed, interrupting me.
> [Quest Issued: Survive the Mugging.]
> [Objective: Defeat the thieves (0/3)]
> [Reward: 3 Stat Points, 1 Low-Level Skill.]
>
I looked up. Three men in dark hoodies were sliding down the banks of the dry lake bed, their eyes locked on me—and the glowing stone in my hand.
I gripped my fists, feeling a spark of that new energy humming under my skin. "Well... fuck me, I guess."...
Author's Note
Hey everyone! This is a novel I though of so why not try make it I hope y'all enjoyed the first chapter hopefully it will only get better any ideas drop them in the comments! Don't forget to add this to your library to stay updated. Thanks for reading!